The Z-5450's control module employs 2.4GHz digital wireless transmission to send the signal to the surround speakers. Like some cordless phones, the transmitter uses a frequency-hopping technique to avoid interference. Logitech also claims that when the system detects interference, it changes channels and resends the signal in less than 20 milliseconds, correcting the problem before the human ear realises anything went wrong.
With our 2.4GHz wireless phone in the same room as the speakers, interference from the Z-5450 rendered the phone unusable. We eliminated the problem by turning the speakers off or leaving the room with the phone. At least the phone didn't cause any noticeable interference in the speakers' sound. What's more, the speakers and our 802.11g/b wireless network didn't cause each other any obvious problems, such as dropouts or interference. Logitech claims the speakers have a reliable range of 9m -- their performance was consistently clean and stable in our more typical setup, with the rear speakers installed roughly 2m from the control module/transmitter. We briefly plugged one of the rear speakers into an outlet in the room next to our testing facility, and it still received the signal fine. All in all, the surrounds performed very well, delivering clear, hiccup-free rear-channel sound.
During intense deathmatch battles in the game Half-Life 2, the subwoofer drove rocket-launcher and grenade explosions home with enough bass to satisfy. Unfortunately, the bandpass subwoofer represents a step down from the larger and more powerful direct-firing subwoofer supplied with Logitech's Z-5500. Bandpass subwoofers, such as the Z-5450's, incorporate an internally firing driver along with a vented cabinet to maximise bass output, but the extra brawn comes at the expense of tightness, punch and precision. For instance, in Outkast's Ms. Jackson, the bass line sounded a little more lumbering and looser than we would have liked.
With movies, games and music, the capable satellite speakers created a convincing soundstage with impressive depth. During Star Trek: Insurrection and other DVDs, centre-speaker dialogue came out perfectly clear. The Z-5450's treble and midrange sounded smooth and balanced rather than abrasive and unnatural, making the system easy on the ears, even during long listening sessions.
Edited by Rich Brown
Additional editing by Kate Macefield
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